Method for producing blocks of licorice mass



Nov. 24, 1942; A, M, sm I 23651238 R'ICE MASS METHOD FOR rnonuc'ms BLOCKS OF LICO Filed Nov. 16, 1940 Patented Nov. 24, 1942 METHOD FOR PRODUCING-BLOCKSOF LICORICE vMASS Albert M. Spiegel, Oaklyn,'N; J-., assignor. to Mac Andrews'& Forbes Company, 'Camden,-N. J-., a corporation of NewJersey Application'llovember 1c, 1940, Serial'No. 366,014

6 Claims. (Cl. 99-140) ..This invention relates to new and useful improvements in methods of forming. and wrapping blocks of licorice mass, and more particularly to methods by which the licorice mass is prevented from adhering to a mold, to the liner of a mold, or to a subsequently employed wrapper.

Licorice mass is the designation given by the trade. to aqueous extracts of licorice root, and particularly the primary extract of such root, produced for commercial use. The greater portion of'this so-called licorice mass that is produced commercially is used in the preparation and manufacture of tobacco products, notably chewing tobacco, for flavoring purposes.-

In the preparation of. licorice mass for storage and shipment, thelioorice mass is cast or molded into relatively large blocks and, heretofore, the usual practice has been to pour itwhile hotland quite fluid into molds. of wood and lined with some suitable form of paper which serves as a wrapper for'themolded licorice mass. Kraft, manila, .or similar'paper is usually employed for this purpose in standard practice. into the mold it cools to room temperature and solidifies. The solidified mass of licorice adheres firmly .to the paper, and the block is theninserted in a cardboard carton or other container for storage in a pile and subsequent shipment to the user.

This adherence of. the paper to the licorice mass causes considerable inconvenience and loss to the user of thelicorice mass for the paper must first be removed from the licorice. mass,

either by use of water or a jetof steam, or by dissolving the licorice mass in water and then removing the paper. by straining the solution of licorice through a sieve. In all of these cases there resultsnot only an'objectionable mess and loss of'time, but also a loss of licorice washed on to the floor or adhering to the pieces of wrapping paper.

With the foregoing in mind, the principal object of the present invention is, to provide a novel method for forming and'wrapping blocks of licorice mass wherein the paper or other wrapper will not adhere and stick to the licorice mass.

In addition, it is an object of the invention to provide a wrapped block of licorice mass from which the Wrapping may be readily stripped or removed from the licorice mass without any waste of the latter.

After the licorice mass is thus poured These molds usually are Another object of the invention is to provide 55 a method .of the characterdescribed which is relatively simpleand inexpensive to carryout.

These'and other objects of the inventionand the various features and details of theprocedure therein are hereinafter fully setforth and described, and shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspectiveof a mold form and liner therefor which maybe employed in practicing the present invention; and

Figure '2. is a large fragmentary view in section taken on line 22, Figure 1.

The flrm'adherence and sticking of the paper wrapper, such as kraft or'manila paper usually used in standard practice, to the molded licorice mass apparently is due essentially to the reten tion of the-moisture. in the surface portions of 'the'licorice mass, for I have found that: byefffecting a very rapid dissipation or removal of the moisture from the surface portions of the licorice mass as it'is poured-into a mold, there is formed rapidly at the surface of the mass'a relatively dry and non-tacky skin or film to which the lining or wrapper will not stick or firmly adhere with the result that such lining or wrapper can be removed readily and easily by the user of the licoricemass.

According'to the'present invention, thisrapid dissipation or' removal of moisture to produce a relatively dry and non-tacky surface skin or film on the licorice mass is preferably accomplished by employing molds having walls that are perforate or of relatively open mesh or mesh-like construction together with a suitable mold lining material such as that hereinafter described.

On the other hand, reasonably satisfactory results. may be obtained by the use of foraminous. molds without the use of a lining and, conversely, by the use of an imperforate mold together with a lining having sufficiently great moisture permeability and similar properties.

However, due to the fact that an imperforate mold is entirely impervious to the passage of moisture it is desirable, in most cases, to em-' ploy, molds of the perforate type. Such a perforate mold may be of perforated sheet metal or wiremesh construction.

In the case of perforate molds the size of mesh or openings in the walls thereof depends, of course, upon the fluidity of hot licorice that' is poured into them and also upon whether or not a lining is employed therein. The fluidity of the. licorice depends upon its temperature and also upon its. moisture content; Licorice" mass latter;

as produced commercially usually has 9. moisture (water) content of approximately to (generally about 23%) and a temperature between 170 F. and 200 F. at the moment of pouring.

Of course, when no lining is employed within the mold when the hot fluid licorice mass is poured into it the mesh or openings in the walls of the mold must be of smaller size than in cases where a mold lining is employed, and where the licorice mass has a moisture content of 20% to 25% and a temperature of about 180 F. the size of the openings in the mold walls should not exceed 20 mesh and preferably should be of the order of mesh when no liner is employed. On the other hand, in cases where a lining is employed for the mold the openings in-the mold walls may be substantially larger. 4

The lining employed is essentially easily wettable and characterized by its high degree of moisture permeabilityproperties which combine to effect a rapid absorption, transmission and dispersion of moisture or water-vapor from .the surface portions of the licorice mass and outwardly through the interstices in the mold walls to the surrounding air. Such a lining may be of paper (towelling, blotting, etc.) or may be of cloth such as muslin, canton flannel, etc.

The perforate or mesh molds function to permit or aid the dissipation and removal of moisture from the surface portions of the licorice mass outwardly through the mold walls, and this action takes place with such rapidity that a relatively dry, nontacky surface film or skin forms on the surface of the licorice mass before it has had suflicient time to stick or adhere to the mold-or fiow outwardly through the openings therein in the case no lining is employed, or to stick or adhere to the lining in the event that a lining is used within the mold. This rapid dissipation or evaporation of the surface moisture from the licorice mass not only functions to cause the formation of the relatively dry surface film cases this may be found desirable to accelerate the dispersion of moisture and heat.

Upon cooling of the licorice mass in the mold to room temperature, the resulting block may be removed from the mold merely by inverting the After removal in this manner the mold may be immediately used again and the licorice block may be wrapped in a protective wrapper of suitablematerial such as, for example, Cellophane, lacquered paper, waxed paper or the like, and then placed in a suitable carton or container for storage, shipment or other handling. The wrapper will not adhere to the surface of the licorice block at room temperatures reasonable for storage and, therefore, can be readily and easily stripped or otherwis removed'therefrom by the user of the licorice.

In practicing the invention I prefer to employ a lining for the mold as aforesaid for the reason that good results are then not too dependent upon a critical control of the temperature and moisture content of the licorice mass, and higher temperatures and moisture content can be employed satisfactorily regardless of the mesh size of the mold wall openings.

Referring now to the drawing, there is illustrated a mold I suitable for practicing the present invention. The mold shown is fabricated of galvanized wire mesh, and to avoid a ragged edge at the top of the mold I the upper ends of the vertical wire strands may be turned over the heavier frame wire 2 as indicated at 3. Fitted loosely into the mold l is a liner 4 of fabric or paper characterized by its high degree of moisture permeability as previously described. The liner 4 may be cut in the form of a cross and then fitted or placed into the mold I so that the central portion of the cross is disposed on the bottom of the mold and the respective oppositely projecting portions of said liner extend up along the inner surface of the sides of the mold, the various portions of. the liner conforming in size and shape substantially to the corresponding portions of the mold which they are to cover or line. Too, the side wall portions of the liner preferably extend a short distance above the mold walls so that they can be folded outwardly and down over the upper edges of said mold and to which they may be secured and held in place by an elastic rubber band 5, or by a wire, or any other suitable means.

In a typical case, about twenty-six pounds of licorice mass containing approximately 23% moisture content at a temperature of about F. is poured into a mesh mold l of suitable dimensions fitted with a liner 4 of muslin, a material highly permeable to moisture because of its properties of absorbency, porosity and capillarity. As the hot fluid licorice mass is poured into the mold the relatively open mesh construction of the latter and the moisture permeability of the liner 4 function rapidly to dissipate and remove moisture and lower the temperature of the surface portions of the licorice mass with the re sult that before the licorice mass has an opportunity to stick or adhere to the liner there is formed on the licorice mass a surface film that is relatively dry and non-tacky that will not thereafter adhere or stick to the liner of the mold.

After the mold is filled with hot fluid licorice mass the mass is allowed to 0001 to room temperature and solidify. When this has taken place the mold may then be inverted and the licorice mass readily removed therefrom. The muslin liner 4, of course, tends to come out of the mold with the licorice mass block but is prevented from doing so by the band 5 with the result that the said liner is merely pushed back into the mold for use again. The licorice mass removed from the mold is then wrapped in Cellophane,

lacquered paper, waxed paper or the like, and placed in a suitable cardboard or other carton or container for storage, shipment and like hannot intended that the invention be limited to such disclosure but that changes and modifications may be made and incorporated therein and thereto within the scope of the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. In the method of forming liquid aqueous licorice extract into a relatively large solid mass, the steps which comprise effecting contact between exterior regions of a substantial body of hot liquid aqueous licorice extract and spaced highly moisture permeable restraining walls for said body and simultaneously effecting contact of air with said walls, said moisture permeable walls and said air cooperating to rapidly remove and evaporate aqueous moisture from the exterior regions of said body adjacent the walls thereby substantially immediately forming on said exterior regions a relatively dry, non-tacky, nonadherent surface skin.

2. In the method of forming liquid aqueous licorice extract into a relatively large solid mass, the steps which comprise effecting contact between exterior regions of a substantial body of hot liquid aqueous licorice extract and spaced highly moisture permeable restraining walls for said body and simultaneously effecting contact of air with said walls, said moisture permeable walls and said air cooperating to rapidly remove and evaporate aqueous moisture from the exterior regions of said body adjacent the walls thereby substantially immediately forming on said exterior regions a relatively dry, non-tacky, nonadherent surface skin, the latent heat of vapor- I ization of said aqueous moisture cooperating with said air to cool and solidify said surface skin substantially more rapidly than the interior regions of the licorice body.

3. In the method of forming liquid aqueous licorice extract into a relatively large solid mass, the steps which comprise effecting contact between exterior regions of a substantial body of hot liquid aqueous licorice extract and spaced highly moisture permeable restraining walls for said body and simultaneously effecting contact of air with said walls, said moisture permeable walls and said air cooperating to rapidly remove and evaporate aqueous moisture from the exterior regions of said body adjacent the walls thereby substantially immediately forming on said exterior regions a relatively dry, non-tacky, nonadherent surface skin, and retaining said contact between said moisture permeable walls and said licorice body during transition of the body from the liquid state to a uniformly solid mass.

4. In the method of forming liquid aqueous licorice extract into a relatively large solid mass, the steps which comprise effecting contact between exterior regions of a substantial body of and said air cooperating to rapidly remove and evaporate aqueous moisture from the exterior 7 regions of said body adjacent the walls thereby substantially immediately forming on said exterior regions a relatively dry, non-tacky, nonadherent surface skin, the latent heat of vaporization of said aqueous moisture cooperating with said :air to cool and solidify said surface skin more rapidly than the interior regions of the licorice body, and retaining said contact between said moisture permeable walls and said licorice body during transition of the body from the liquid state to a uniformly solid mass.

5. In the method of forming liquid aqueous licorice extract into a relatively large solid mass, the steps which comprise effecting contact between exterior regions of a substantial body of hot liquid aqueous licorice extract and spaced highly moisture permeable restraining walls for said body and simultaneously effecting contact of air with said walls, said moisture permeable walls and said air cooperating to rapidly remove and evaporate aqueous moisture from the exterior regions of said body adjacent the walls thereby substantially immediately forming on said exteriorregions a relatively dry, non-tacky, nonadherent surface skin, and retaining said contact between said moisture permeable walls and said licorice body during transition of the body from the liquid state to a uniformly solid mass, and then removing the solidified body of licorice from cont-act with said walls, the said dry, non-tacky, non-adherent surface skin formed on the exterior regions of the body adjacent the walls rendering said walls and body instantaneously and cleanly separable from each other.

6. In the method of forming liquid aqueous licorice extract into a relatively large solid mass, the steps which comprise effecting contact between exterior regions of a substantial body of hot liquid aqueous licorice extract and spaced highly moisture permeable restraining walls for said body and simultaneously effecting contact of air with said walls, said moisture permeable walls and said air cooperating to rapidly remove and evaporate aqueous moisture from the exterior regions of said body adjacent the walls thereby substantially immediately forming on said exterior regions a relatively dry, non-tacky, nonadherent surface skin, the latent heat of vaporization of said aqueous moisture cooperating with said air to cool and solidify said surface skin substantially more rapidly than the interior regions of the licorice body, and retaining said contact between said moisture permeable walls and said licorice body during transition of the body from the liquid state to a uniformly solid mass, and then removing the solidified body of licorice from contact with said walls, the said dry, nontacky, non-adherent surface skin formed on the exterior regions of the body adjacent the walls rendering said walls and body instantaneously and cleanly separable from each other.

ALBERT M. SPIEGEL, 

